Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         71 24 11347 10511  0.079 47.702    2  0.712    2  0.675    2  0.769    2 0.5627   14  3.974    1  0.768    4  0.770
THUNDER       72 19 10845  9805  0.070 45.107    1  0.828    1  0.796    1  0.797    1 0.5730   25  3.935    2  0.592    1  1.001
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.023 43.470    8  0.357    8  0.339    8  0.293    6 0.5328    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.038
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.013 41.244   17  0.053   17  0.043   14  0.086   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.368
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.032 45.527    4  0.445    4  0.413    3  0.646    4 0.5398   23  3.940    5  0.468    3  0.823
CAVALIERS     60 36 11346 10986  0.046 48.476    7  0.358    7  0.342    7  0.300    7 0.5318    9  4.001    6  0.436   12  0.165
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.733   12  0.157   11  0.141   13  0.108   13 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.070
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.001 40.758   16  0.082   16  0.068    6  0.392   16 0.5059   21  3.946    8  0.245    7  0.539
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.026 46.888    3  0.516    3  0.488    4  0.494    3 0.5476   27  3.921    9  0.219    5  0.769
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.052 47.983   10  0.266   10  0.245   12  0.127   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.151   14  0.103
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.050 47.215    6  0.360    6  0.346   11  0.153    8 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.172
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.013 42.995    5  0.410    5  0.383    5  0.477    5 0.5380   29  3.899   12  0.095    2  0.859
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.027 44.653   11  0.158   13  0.136   10  0.215   11 0.5129   24  3.936   13  0.019    8  0.411
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.019 44.775   18  0.032   18  0.025   18  0.004   18 0.5018   15  3.974   14  0.000   16  0.007
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.058 41.228   26 -0.584   26 -0.608   26 -0.584   26 0.4430    1  4.081   15 -0.020   29 -1.149
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.037 40.912   23 -0.460   24 -0.484   21 -0.248   23 0.4548    7  4.016   16 -0.029   23 -0.466
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.048 46.882   13  0.149   12  0.136   17  0.051   12 0.5121   19  3.955   17 -0.048   13  0.149
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.052 40.750   22 -0.302   22 -0.321   22 -0.423   22 0.4679    3  4.043   18 -0.063   27 -0.783
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.025 40.384   19 -0.000   19 -0.016   15  0.085   19 0.4984   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.251
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.036 48.530   14  0.135   14  0.128   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.066
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.004 42.793    9  0.289    9  0.267    9  0.246    9 0.5266   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.630
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.000 42.077   20 -0.096   20 -0.111   20 -0.159   20 0.4889   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.119
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.046 45.154   15  0.107   15  0.098   16  0.053   15 0.5090   26  3.923   23 -0.212    9  0.317
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.051 40.813   24 -0.462   23 -0.482   23 -0.427   24 0.4538   11  3.995   24 -0.319   24 -0.535
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.053 40.834   25 -0.500   25 -0.525   27 -0.586   25 0.4508    6  4.021   25 -0.345   28 -0.826
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.056 41.298   29 -0.675   29 -0.704   24 -0.501   29 0.4340   10  4.000   26 -0.368   25 -0.635
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.087 41.177   30 -0.788   30 -0.819   30 -0.825   30 0.4270    4  4.040   27 -0.481   30 -1.168
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.065 41.302   27 -0.594   27 -0.611   28 -0.667   27 0.4428   12  3.990   28 -0.589   26 -0.744
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.065 40.703   21 -0.283   21 -0.296   25 -0.551   21 0.4705   20  3.953   29 -0.662   22 -0.439
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.078 41.125   28 -0.671   28 -0.692   29 -0.806   28 0.4361   28  3.901   30 -1.178   21 -0.434

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        57 35 10562 10467  0.050 47.215    6  0.360    6  0.346   11  0.153    8 0.5317   17  3.971   11  0.135   11  0.172
CLIPPERS      42 41  9450  9362 -0.025 40.384   19 -0.000   19 -0.016   15  0.085   19 0.4984   22  3.942   19 -0.080   10  0.251
WARRIORS      38 46  9620  9676 -0.000 42.077   20 -0.096   20 -0.111   20 -0.159   20 0.4889   18  3.967   22 -0.199   19 -0.119
SUNS          46 42  9875  9813  0.046 45.154   15  0.107   15  0.098   16  0.053   15 0.5090   26  3.923   23 -0.212    9  0.317
KINGS         22 60  9102  9922 -0.065 41.302   27 -0.594   27 -0.611   28 -0.667   27 0.4428   12  3.990   28 -0.589   26 -0.744

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
THUNDER       72 19 10845  9805  0.070 45.107    1  0.828    1  0.796    1  0.797    1 0.5730   25  3.935    2  0.592    1  1.001
NUGGETS       56 32 10655 10260  0.023 43.470    8  0.357    8  0.339    8  0.293    6 0.5328    5  4.023    3  0.548   15  0.038
TIMBERWOLVES  55 39 10975 10770  0.052 47.983   10  0.266   10  0.245   12  0.127   10 0.5236   13  3.979   10  0.151   14  0.103
TRAIL BLAZERS 44 44 10083 10165  0.019 44.775   18  0.032   18  0.025   18  0.004   18 0.5018   15  3.974   14  0.000   16  0.007
JAZZ          22 60  9642 10333 -0.058 41.228   26 -0.584   26 -0.608   26 -0.584   26 0.4430    1  4.081   15 -0.020   29 -1.149

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         71 24 11347 10511  0.079 47.702    2  0.712    2  0.675    2  0.769    2 0.5627   14  3.974    1  0.768    4  0.770
PELICANS      26 56  9473  9842 -0.037 40.912   23 -0.460   24 -0.484   21 -0.248   23 0.4548    7  4.016   16 -0.029   23 -0.466
ROCKETS       54 34 10041  9628  0.004 42.793    9  0.289    9  0.267    9  0.246    9 0.5266   30  3.899   21 -0.138    6  0.630
MAVERICKS     26 56  9358  9810 -0.051 40.813   24 -0.462   23 -0.482   23 -0.427   24 0.4538   11  3.995   24 -0.319   24 -0.535
GRIZZLIES     25 57  9403  9896 -0.053 40.834   25 -0.500   25 -0.525   27 -0.586   25 0.4508    6  4.021   25 -0.345   28 -0.826

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     60 36 11346 10986  0.046 48.476    7  0.358    7  0.342    7  0.300    7 0.5318    9  4.001    6  0.436   12  0.165
PISTONS       67 29 11126 10434  0.026 46.888    3  0.516    3  0.488    4  0.494    3 0.5476   27  3.921    9  0.219    5  0.769
BULLS         31 51  9537  9964 -0.052 40.750   22 -0.302   22 -0.321   22 -0.423   22 0.4679    3  4.043   18 -0.063   27 -0.783
PACERS        19 63  9219  9874 -0.056 41.298   29 -0.675   29 -0.704   24 -0.501   29 0.4340   10  4.000   26 -0.368   25 -0.635
BUCKS         32 50  9072  9581 -0.065 40.703   21 -0.283   21 -0.296   25 -0.551   21 0.4705   20  3.953   29 -0.662   22 -0.439

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          43 40 10037  9847  0.013 41.244   17  0.053   17  0.043   14  0.086   17 0.5034    2  4.061    4  0.540   20 -0.368
HAWKS         48 40 10316 10223  0.036 44.733   12  0.157   11  0.141   13  0.108   13 0.5121    8  4.009    7  0.286   18 -0.070
HORNETS       45 39  9730  9364 -0.001 40.758   16  0.082   16  0.068    6  0.392   16 0.5059   21  3.946    8  0.245    7  0.539
MAGIC         49 42 10393 10355  0.048 46.882   13  0.149   12  0.136   17  0.051   12 0.5121   19  3.955   17 -0.048   13  0.149
WIZARDS       17 65  9257 10240 -0.087 41.177   30 -0.788   30 -0.819   30 -0.825   30 0.4270    4  4.040   27 -0.481   30 -1.168

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                                STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L    PF    PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KNICKS        62 31 10877 10153  0.032 45.527    4  0.445    4  0.413    3  0.646    4 0.5398   23  3.940    5  0.468    3  0.823
CELTICS       59 30 10164  9513  0.013 42.995    5  0.410    5  0.383    5  0.477    5 0.5380   29  3.899   12  0.095    2  0.859
RAPTORS       49 40 10171  9951  0.027 44.653   11  0.158   13  0.136   10  0.215   11 0.5129   24  3.936   13  0.019    8  0.411
76ERS         50 44 10745 10857  0.036 48.530   14  0.135   14  0.128   19 -0.080   14 0.5100   16  3.972   20 -0.094   17 -0.066
NETS          20 62  8686  9505 -0.078 41.125   28 -0.671   28 -0.692   29 -0.806   28 0.4361   28  3.901   30 -1.178   21 -0.434

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 249 194 0.562    1  0.149
ATLANTIC DIVISION  240 207 0.537    2  0.103
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 202 226 0.472    3 -0.038
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 202 227 0.471    4 -0.056
PACIFIC DIVISION   205 224 0.478    5 -0.104
CENTRAL DIVISION   209 229 0.477    6 -0.146

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.148 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.015 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Tue May 19 05:30:12 2026
games through: Mon May 18 2026

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